Cass County Commissioners to get no raise

Other elected county officialsÂ? salaries increased.

Other elected county officialsÂ? salaries increased.

CASSOPOLIS Â? Cass County Board of Commissioners voted not to accept a pay increase for the next two years.

The decision came during its meeting Thursday in which the commissioners considered salaries for the coming years.

Democrat Ed Goodman, of Dowagiac, said he would like to forgo the salary increase, which would give them $7,688 for 2009 and 2010.

The commissionersÂ? pay for this year is $7,500 with the chairman receiving $9,000 and the vice chairman earning $7,800.

Â?This group was given generous pay raises last year and with the economy situation as it is, I recommend we donÂ?t pass this,Â? Goodman said.

Republican Gordon Bickel Sr., of Constantine, agreed. Â?Keep the commissioners salary as they are right now. If we accept these wages, it would look bad,Â? Bickel said.

Commissioners did, however, approve a 2.5 increase in salaries for other county elected officials.

Â?We are part time, not full time. We are in a decent financial situation,Â? said Republican Carl Higley Sr., of Edwardsburg.

Â?The other people are full time and have families to support.Â?

The Water Resources Commissioner, Bruce Campbell, of Edwardsburg, will receive $43,879, up from $42,809; the treasurerÂ?s salary will go up to $55,130, an increase of $1,345 for Linda Irwin, of Dowagiac; and Clerk/Register Barbara Wilson will receive $56,513, up from $55,135. Cass County Sheriff Joseph UnderwoodÂ?s salary will be $70,090, an increase of $1,710; and prosecuting attorney Victor Fitz will receive an increase of $2,046 for a total of $83,887.